2017 British Columbia general election
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| 2017 British Columbia general election | |
|---|---|
| Election name | 2017 British Columbia general election |
| Country | Canada |
| Type | parliamentary |
| Previous election | 2013 British Columbia general election |
| Previous year | 2013 |
| Next election | 2020 British Columbia general election |
| Next year | 2020 |
| Election date | May 9, 2017 |
| Seats for election | 87 seats in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia |
| Majority seats | 44 |
| Turnout | 61.2% |
2017 British Columbia general election was held on May 9, 2017, to elect members to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The contest featured the incumbent Christy Clark leading the BC Liberals, the John Horgan-led BC NDP, and Andrew Weaver's BC Greens, producing a hung legislature and a subsequent confidence crisis. Results and negotiations involved prominent figures and institutions including the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, legal advisers, and federal actors such as Justin Trudeau's Liberal Party of Canada in background discussions.
Background
The election followed the 2013 contest that returned a BC Liberal majority under Christy Clark, succeeding earlier administrations like those of Gordon Campbell and involving ministers such as Rich Coleman and Michael de Jong. Key provincial issues had included policies from the Premier of British Columbia's office, controversies over the Site C project, disputes with indigenous leaders like Grand Chief Stewart Phillip and groups including First Nations Summit and Carrier Sekani Tribal Council, and fiscal debates tied to entities such as the British Columbia Teachers' Federation and the Health Employers Association of British Columbia. Nationally, interactions with the Trudeau ministry and responses to Supreme Court of Canada decisions framed the political context, while municipal actors like the Vancouver City Council and movers in the Surrey region influenced regional dynamics.
Electoral system and boundaries
British Columbia used the single-member plurality system (first-past-the-post) across 87 electoral districts defined under legislation approved by the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia and reviewed by the independent Electoral Boundaries Commission. Districts such as Vancouver-Point Grey, Victoria-Beacon Hill, Surrey-Newton, Burnaby North and Kelowna-Mission each elected one Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) under rules administered by Elections BC and the Chief Electoral Officer Anton Boegman. Campaign finance and advertising were regulated by statutes debated in the Parliament of British Columbia and interpreted in consultation with entities like the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia.
Campaigns and issues
Major campaigns focused on housing and affordability debates impacting stakeholders like the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver and municipal bodies including the City of Vancouver, transportation projects such as the TransLink system and the Port Mann Bridge, resource policies around the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion and the Site C dam, and public sector negotiations involving the British Columbia Nurses' Union and the BC Teachers' Federation. The BC Liberals, led by Christy Clark, emphasized economic stewardship with figures like Michael de Jong and strategies appealing to business groups including the Business Council of British Columbia, while the BC NDP under John Horgan campaigned on social services and taxation with spokespeople like Carole James and David Eby. The BC Greens, led by Andrew Weaver and featuring candidates like Adam Olsen, stressed environmental priorities and electoral reform tied to advocates such as the Fair Vote Canada movement and commentators from outlets including the Vancouver Sun and the Globe and Mail.
Opinion polls and projections
Throughout 2016 and 2017, pollsters such as Ipsos Reid, Angus Reid Institute, Strategic Counsel, Nanos Research, and Mainstreet Research produced divergent projections, with some surveys favoring the BC Liberals in popular vote while others showed gains for the BC NDP and surges for the BC Greens. Media organizations including CBC News, Global News, and CTV News reported seat projections using models influenced by past results from districts like Richmond and Nanaimo; political scientists at institutions like the University of British Columbia and the University of Victoria offered analysis on strategic voting and vote-splitting among the Liberals, NDP, and Greens. Election night coverage highlighted mismatches between projected vote shares and actual counts in constituencies such as Courtenay-Comox and Prince George–Valemount.
Results
The election produced a 43–41–3 seat distribution among the BC Liberals, BC NDP, and BC Greens respectively, falling short of a majority threshold of 44 seats and prompting a hung parliament. Prominent victors and losers included incumbents like Christy Clark (who initially remained as Premier) and challengers like Carole James and John Horgan who led NDP gains in ridings such as Langford-Juan de Fuca and Surrey-Green Timbers. Vote totals showed the BC Liberals winning the largest share of the popular vote in several regions including the Lower Mainland, while the BC NDP secured concentrated support in the Interior and on Vancouver Island. Close results triggered recounts and judicial scrutiny in marginal districts including Courtenay-Comox and Fernie where returning officers and the Supreme Court of British Columbia were referenced in procedural matters.
Aftermath and government formation
Following the return of the legislature, the BC NDP entered negotiations with the BC Greens, led by Andrew Weaver, culminating in a confidence and supply agreement that aligned with precedents in Canadian parliamentary practice involving parties such as the NDP nationally and provincial partners. Lieutenant Governor Judith Guichon faced the convention-driven decision to invite a government to form; after the BC Liberals under Christy Clark lost a confidence vote in the Legislative Assembly, Clark resigned and John Horgan was sworn in as Premier, supported by the NDP–Green accord. The episode prompted commentary from constitutional scholars at institutions like the University of Toronto and triggered discussions about fixed-date election laws in the Parliament of British Columbia and potential reforms advocated by groups such as the Society for Canadian Democratic Reform.
Category:Elections in British Columbia